I have to say that we have had a few very emotional weeks. We had to put our 22 year old cat down. It was extremely hard for all. I have had her since l was 14. My family adopted Sheena from a local humane society. At the time and were informed that she was approximately 3 years old already. She was been a part of my family for so many years. When my parents divorced in 2001...l some how inherited her. Since then the kids have become so fond of her. Sheena was the end all be all. Snuggling with them at night and greeting them at the door.
We have been preparing them for awhile now that Sheena would be leaving us for heaven. So the time came and it was the hardest thing that my husband and l have ever had to do. It was hard on us... but watching the kids go through it was even harder. We did our best to explain it to them both. Death to a 3 and 6 year old is really hard for them to grasp...especially Dylan. Night after night we were up with him trying explain heaven and where Sheena is now.
Telling him that heaven is a magical place where there is no pain, no suffering , no sadness. That Sheena was happy and looking down on us all. In the midst of our conversation Dylan asked how Sheena gets to heaven...his thoughts on this was that she went in a rocket ship how ...he also wished that he could say "hocus pocus" and she would be back with as all. My hearts breaks as we sit in bed and have this conversation with one another.
After days and days of tears, l thought l would take the kids over to our local Humane Society and just have a LOOK...nothing more...but that was not the case. We looked at a few cats and l told the workers of our situation. I explain that the kind of cat that we needed was one that was super cuddly. They took us to a back room and said..."if you can get over his hair do then this is the perfect cat for you". There he was Mr. Muggins. In all is glory and funky hair do to boot. They had to shave him because he was a stray and was so natty. So he had a big head and tail full of fur but no where else...lol...AS soon as we came out of his cage he climbed onto Dylan lap and snuggled in right away. It was amazing to watch . Really. I had a moment and thought this cat is meant for us. I truly believe this. You have to meet Mr. Muggins to understand this. We have all fallen in love with the little guy. Mugs has the best little personality ever and wants nothing more then to give love. We have welcomed him into our family :)
Here is Mr. Muggins
Now don't get me wrong. We still miss our Sheena and Dylan still has tears...but Mr. Muggins has made this time much easier. As you can tell we are true animal lovers and treat them as one of us. We laid our Sheena to rest in out backyard where we are planting a tree to represent her.
I suggest that if anyone is looking to get an animal please go to your local animal shelter first. There are so many beautiful pets there that all need loving homes. Pets get adopted so easily from pet stores and such. Our Mr. Muggins is 2 years old and is so thankful to be in a home after months and months in a cage. Just something to think about.
